What’s New in Workplace First Aid Kits: The 2026 Update to ANSI/ISEA Z308.1

ANSI/ISEA Z308.1 sets the minimum requirements for workplace first aid kits and supplies. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved the 2026 revision on September 15, 2026, and it will replace the 2021 edition when it takes effect on March 15, 2027. It adds a requirement for bilingual first aid guides and recommendations for naloxone and anti-choking devices, plus new guidance on mobile workers, training, and bleeding control.

Why a Voluntary Standard Still Matters

Following Z308.1 is voluntary. OSHA’s first aid rule requires employers to have adequate supplies that are readily available but doesn’t list what those supplies are. OSHA references Z308.1 as a recommended minimum guideline, so the standard is what employers use to measure whether their supplies are adequate.

What Changed at a Glance

[TABLE]

Where Redicare Fits

Every Redicare program follows the same four steps: we plan coverage around your site, supply the equipment, train your team, and service everything on a schedule. Three Redicare solutions tie directly to parts of the 2026 update:

• Overdose Kit: naloxone for your first aid program
• Responder Bag: supplies organized by emergency type, including opioid overdose, choking, and bleeding control
• RediFLEET: managed first aid for every vehicle in your fleet

Naloxone and Anti-Choking Devices

Naloxone, often sold as Narcan, is an FDA-approved over-the-counter medication that reverses an opioid overdose, and it’s safe to use even if the person hasn’t taken opioids. The 2026 standard encourages every employer to make it available, with at least two nasal sprays per kit, kept visible in a clearly labeled kit near your other first aid supplies and emergency equipment. It also asks employers to consider naloxone for mobile and remote workers.

The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) reports that fatal overdoses account for nearly 10% of workplace deaths. In a 2024 National Safety Council survey, only 28% of employers said they stock naloxone at all of their work sites.

In New York, naloxone becomes a legal requirement on December 13, 2026, for private employers that OSHA requires to keep first aid supplies.

If you’re a Redicare client, naloxone will be added to your program with the Redicare Overdose Kit,installed beneath your first aid cabinet.

Anti-choking devices are also a new recommendation to the standard. They’re a backup for clearing a blocked airway when the usual choking response, such as abdominal thrusts, isn’t working or can’t be done. Like naloxone, they should be kept visible in a labeled kit near your first aid supplies, and employees should know how to use them.

Bleeding Control

The 2026 edition sets stricter criteria for arterial tourniquets: each must use mechanical advantage to tighten a non-stretch strap, stop the bleeding within 90 seconds, and hold for at least 15 minutes. With counterfeit tourniquets on the rise, the standard recommends confirming that yours meet these requirements.

Both the Redicare first aid cabinet and Responder Bag contain military-grade tourniquets, among other bleeding control supplies. The Responder Bag is organized by emergency type, with bleeding control in its own section alongside burns and CPR. Redicare also offers a Bleeding Control training course for your team.

Mobile Workers

The 2021 edition said field workers need first aid access. The 2026 edition explains how to provide it for off-site work like construction, utilities, landscaping, and skilled trades. If the vehicle is more than 3 to 4 minutes round trip from where people are working, the kit should be brought to the worksite.

Mobile kits should be inspected at least monthly or after each use. As a best practice, the standard suggests one central restock location, such as an office or warehouse.

RediFLEET works this way. Vehicles carry pre-packaged kits labeled by injury type, and when a driver uses one, they swap it for a fresh kit at a Home Base Cabinet. Then, we service your Home Base Cabinet as part of your regular monthly service to make sure your drivers and field workers always have access to fresh supplies.

Bilingual Guides

First aid guides in conforming kits must now be printed in both English and Spanish. The guides should use clear, simple language, with diagrams where needed, so trained responders and untrained employees can both follow them. The guides in Redicare first aid cabinets will be replaced with bilingual guides by March 15, 2027.

Next Steps

If you’re a Redicare client, talk to your Redicare specialist about how the 2026 update applies to your program, including whether the Overdose Kit, Responder Bag, or RediFLEET belongs in it. If you’re not a Redicare client yet, get your RediScore for a quick look at where your program stands and how you can get started.